What is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)?
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an all-encompassing global treaty on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources. It was adopted in Nairobi and opened for signature at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 and came into force in December 1993. It provides a logical and broad framework for actions to take place at all levels and thus is unique in making biodiversity a top priority amongst both decision makers and the public.
Article 1 identifies the Convention’s three objectives:
- The conservation of biological diversity
- The sustainable use of biological resources
- The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources
For the implementation of the Convention, the provision of ‘new and additional resources’ from developed countries is explicitly required; the established financial mechanism is provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Appropriate application of the concepts of the CBD are intended to ensure that in future humanity will maintain a sustainable relationship with the natural world.
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